Dan Hardy marvels at Francis Ngannou's fortitude amid tragic 2024: 'I don't want to be Renan Ferreira'

No one would have blamed Francis Ngannou for sitting out the rest of 2024 after the events that have rocked his life over the past seven months.

Fifty days after a brutal knockout loss to Anthony Joshua, the former UFC heavyweight champion tragically lost his 15-month-old son Kobe. But six months later, he kept his word and showed up in Saudi Arabia to take center stage Saturday at the biggest event in PFL history.

Immediately after stepping off the plane from New York, PFL head of talent Dan Hardy stood face to face with the Goliath and couldn't help but appreciate the obvious lengths Ngannou had gone to prepare for his meeting with the Brazilians in the main event prepare giant Renan Ferreira.

“Physically he's very good looking, very strong and very lean, that's something that stood out to me,” Hardy said on Uncrowned's “The Craic with Petesy Carroll” before PFL: Battle of the Giants.

“I remember seeing him, especially at the press conferences for the last few boxing matches he had. I remember thinking to myself, he looked really big and heavy. This time it looks like he leaned a little further forward. It looks like he will be faster. I think he fully expects a really tough test and I think he knows it will take him maybe 25 minutes.”

Hardy is no stranger to fight glory and had a front row seat to the madness that surrounded Cedric Doumbé in his three PFL fights in Paris, but after seeing the banners along the streets of Riyadh all fight week, he was Impressed by the significance of Ngannou's name, the PFL marquee expanded on Saturday.

“I once stood in an elevator with Brock Lesnar – well, I squeezed into the corner of the elevator with him. He has a strong presence about him. “Francis is the same,” Hardy explained. “There's something quite regal about him.” I don't know if that's because of the marketing of the Tyson (Fury) fight when he was on the throne with the crown, but he seems to carry that regal energy so well. And as you can imagine, he grabs everyone's attention as soon as he walks into a room.

“He faces a tough test this weekend but if he gets through it everyone will get back on the Francis train. However, we simply cannot look past Renan as this weekend we could also see the birth of a new heavyweight superstar.”

After a series of four brutal knockouts, there is no denying how big a threat Ferreira is.

However, it is Ngannou's perseverance during a time of unprecedented tragedy that has struck a chord with the British MMA legend.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what he went through,” Hardy said.

“Getting knocked out is one thing. I passed out on live TV, it wasn't quite as big of an event as Francis', but a lot of people saw it and it's just one of those things that you have to put in the back of your head and say, “Well, it.” is a part of martial arts.” If you land enough knockout punches, eventually someone will catch you with one, you can ruin that.

“But the personal things, the loss of his son, I don't know if you can divide it up and deal with it, as well as the pressure that comes with fighting. That would take a much stronger person than me, and I think Francis is that guy. But ultimately I think the emphasis on a competition, a fight (helps) and the fact that it's mixed martial arts, something he's familiar with.”

Hardy hopes Ngannou found comfort in his preparation for the fight. “There's no way to distract himself,” he said, “but not to sit around all day and fall into the abyss – that's what I imagine it would feel like for him – to get up, go to the gym and feel like you feel.” I have a goal, no matter what that is, I think that's healthy for him.

“At the PFL press conference a few weeks ago in DC, he said he didn’t feel like he had a chance to fight for his son, so this could be the opportunity. I get emotional thinking about it. I just think focusing on competition will really be beneficial for him. And a focused Francis Ngannou, he's scary enough, but if I'm single-minded about defeating this individual in front of him, I don't want to be Renan Ferreira this weekend.”

Both Ngannou and Hardy's compatriot Tom Aspinall underlined their claim to be the best heavyweight in the world on “The Ariel Helwani Show” this week.

Because of his proximity to both, Hardy commented on the debate.

“We will find out the best heavyweight in the PFL this weekend and on November 16th we will find out who the best heavyweight in the UFC is. “I hope – and I love Stipe (Miocic) – but I hope it will be Jones versus Aspinall,” Hardy said. “I don’t think I’ll find out who the best heavyweight in the UFC is” when Jones fights Stipe Miocic. I don't know if it's either of those two guys, but Tom Aspinall is definitely in this conversation.

“Whether Tom is now good enough and has the experience to beat Francis is a completely different question. Same goes for Renan Ferreira and I would send any of those guys to the main event at Madison Square Garden. I believe Francis and Renan have a great chance against any of these three heavyweights at Madison Square Garden.”

While many scoff at the idea of ​​a cross-promotional conflict, Hardy isn't ready to give up on the idea of ​​the PFL and UFC teaming up to truly find the best MMA heavyweight in the world.

“Ultimately, I want to see Tom Aspinall with the legitimate heavyweight belt around his waist and the UFC is open to a superfight between that heavyweight champ and our heavyweight champ, whoever that may be,” Hardy said. “I know that. It's a long journey, but Turki Alalshikh is taking some steps in the world of boxing so that maybe he can make it in mixed martial arts too.”